Squeeling noises... Tie rod?

About a month ago I started hearing a squeeling sound that increases when the accelerator is depressed, and gets really "whiny" when the wheel is turned to the left. The noise has gotten so bad you can feel it in the wheel.

Yesterday I removed the front wheels, and noticed the steering gear boot on the drivers side was torn and someone had tried to repair it with a zip-tie. In the 65,000 miles I have owned her I never noticed. The boot was torn in several places, wish I had realized sooner...



After cutting the zip ties and pulling the boot back, here is what the inner tie rod end looked like. There is quite a bit of play in the ball joint, and no grease:



As a temp fix I greased the ball joint up as best I could and tried to salvage some of the boot. After doing so the noise got slightly better, but is still there.

Think this could be the source of the noise? I was thinking it had something to do with the belt or a bearing, but the fact that it increases when turning to the left has me puzzled.

Thanks for any help in advance.

 

Hi, first I think you should also post this in the 1st.
gen to get a faster and much more experienced help with this, and I would park the truck right now until I know more!!!! I have heard stories about stuff like that snapping on the highway and someone doing flips.
I do know the CV boot covers need to be inspected reg. and often if you are and I don't want to say abusing it, but making her earn her keep.You know how the owners manual tries to separate operation conditions, (do you drive like a old lady or a normal person) for maintance. I was not sure if you had raised the truck or it was already lifted, but save that for later.....
the boot covers are to keep grease in and water and dirt out and that ship has sailed, I don't have enough knowledge to guess how much longer you can go, but I know enough to not like what i see there. I don't think its safe to drive, and to be honest you have some front end work to do. But I think now is the time to step her up a little, if you have to replace things.

so those pics were from last winter? what a difference this year, I have always had access to, trucks until 11 years ago when i moved here and after two 50 inch snowyears in a row and calling for another i got a 4x4 and look what happened. Before the Bush 1 depression my uncle had been selling to Syracuse Supply Co, for about 20 years, made a couple of trips to Buffalo and Binghamton, before the 91 recession laid things up. That was here I got my first real observation of what snow was.

 

Your inner tie rod is shot, outer might be okay. Squeaking or not it needs replaced if there is play. Check your tie rod on the other side as well. Check your upper and lower ball joints and wheel bearings as well.

I would check all your idlers in the serpentine system as well as all the accessory pullies.

 

Ordered the parts to do the inner and outer tie-rod.

In the meantime, I changed all 3 belts... Still getting the noise. I noticed the power steering fluid was a bit low, had to add around 35ml to bring it up to where it should be.

Any other suggestions? Could it be the power steering pump? Does the fluid go bad?

 

Believe it or not power steering fluid should get changed once in a while. Not sure that that will fix your issues but... PS fluid is often overlooked in PMs.

I guess you have multiple belts and not a serpentine system, sorry. Still check all the pulleys for shot bearings.


I'd start with that and replace the steering bits. Then go from there.

If it still makes noise, get someone to help you listen from under the truck while you raise the rpms and turn the steering wheel. If not then try a go pro mounted near your front suspension and see if you can pinpoint it that way?

 

Thanks for the ideas. I checked the bearings when changing belts earlier today, they all looked fantastic.

My partner at work today was a 15yr Subaru tech and he helped me look into it. His diagnosis is that the power steering pump is shot.

I'm going to try and flush the power steering fluid and try some Lucas. If that doesn't do it, I'll be swapping the power steering pump.

Thank you all!